First post!

The first post of my new Blog!

A sad way to start, but its also a way to honour a great man. Today my family and I buried my Grandfather, Ira George Glenn Butterworth (May 23rd 1925 - August 3rd 2007).

He was more than just a Grandfather to me he was also my Father figure. He has helped shape my life and the way I was raised. Excluding my Mother he has had the most influence in my life. He introduced me to many sports, in particular Golf! He also got me interested in Photography which I now enjoy immensely.


The service was simple and wasn't religious (the way he would like it).

The family wrote the eulogy and was expanded on and delivered exceptionally well by the celebrant, Peter Berends.

Ira was born on May 23, 1925.
He grew up in Mowbray with his mother and grandparents.

He loved swimming and shooting with his cousin George and competition bike riding with his mates.

He worked for a short time at the Examiner Newspaper as a proof reader before commencing work at Australia Post (then known as the PMG) in 1940 as a telegraph messenger, progressing to supervisor of the mail room before retirement.

Ira enlisted in the Army in 1943 serving in New Guinea in the 24th Battalion 2nd A.I.F.

After the War he returned to the Post Office, met and fell in love with Gwendoline Carpenter who he married on 22nd January, 1949. Together Ira and Gwen built their home at Walkers Avenue where they happily lived for 58 years of marriage.
Their first child, Greg, was born in 1950 and Anita came along in 1951. Ira has 2 grandchildren, Colin and Jasmyn and a great grandson, Ryan.

He took up playing golf in late 1960 playing at the Mowbray Golf Club where he won many chooks. He encouraged Gwen to join in early 70’s and Colin in the 80’s.

After over 40 years he retired from the Post Office and he and Gwen travelled around Tasmania and the mainland playing on over 100 courses.

Whenever they were away the family wondered what mishaps would occur such as the time they caught the train in North Sydney to the end of the line, reboarded for the return trip only to find the train went backwards ending up at the shunting yard 5 kms away.

On another trip they stayed at a multi-storey complex. While Gwen was preparing tea Ira went to the local RSL Club to play the pokies. On return he found he couldn’t get in through the security door so he walked back to the RSL, 1km away and rang Anita in Launceston who rang her mum in Sydney to get her to go down 12 floors to let him in. As Gwen travelled down in 1 lift she heard Ira talking as he was going up in the other lift – someone else had let him into the building.

But the mishaps weren’t confined to their trips away like the time he was late for his game at the Mowbray Golf Club and he rushed down to the 10th Tee on his 3 wheeled golf bike, he hopped off and raced to the Tee forgetting to take the bike out of gear. Hearing his mates yell he turned to see his bike disappearing into the Dam. Ira stripped off into his undies and went in after it then wheeled it back to the clubhouse much to the amusement of all who saw him and many wolf whistles and jokes. It was also lucky it was one of the rare days he was wearing underpants.

Ira will be remembered as an easy going, happy bloke who loved his family dearly. He also loved his pet dogs. Once when Gwen, Greg and Anita were on holidays Anita’s pet pug Tiny helped himself to Ira’s beer which was sitting on the table near him becoming quiet legless. Over the years Ira often laughed and joked about our beer drinking pug.

Ira was a great man, wonderful husband, father and grandfather and friend to all. He will be sadly missed!